Bttfeer



Jan. 8, 19241 T 1,480,086

I G. A. LYON BUFFER Original Filed A112. 18. 1921 Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUFFER.

Appln' .iion riled August 18. 1921. Serial No. 493.215

Be it known that l, GEORGE ALBERT LYON, :1 citizen of the l'nited States, and resident of Philadelphia, county of Phihulelphizi, tale of Pennsylvania. have made it rertnin new and useful intention Relating lo llull'vrs, ol' whirh the following is a. sperifiration, taken in ronnertion with the no rompnnying: drawing. which form part f the mmr.

This ll'HCllllHH Man especially to wi l or lHHHlKl'H for illllfilliflllllfis or other n-hirlre in whirh the holler front comprises intermmlinte rushioning loops or bends;- eo an t give an ndditioi'nilly resilient ventral portion hrrnnse of these spiral or other spring voile intermediate the end loops of the boiler front which are prel'erahlynlm provided. \Vilh the usual flat spring steel strip snrh :i is used for automobile hnflers thenbent. rolled or spirally twisted portions may he utilized in any vwitnble way to not only in- I'HFIHP the resilient yielding of the central portions of the buffer front, but to form or i-nrry portions thereof vertically or horirontully out of line with the other or end portions, so as to provide a. front impact portion of inrreased vertical Width Such as SQYQl'lll times as wide as the buffer strip. For this purpose the one or more front stripzmay have round or preferably flattened spiral or bent portions in which the axes of the spirals may he vertiral horizontal or diagonal. and may comprise two to four turns more or. less depending: on the spring stock and service desired; and of ronrse. these increased resilienre epirul front portions may he used with. or withonl the yieldin; end loops of the Lyon type buffer which may extend out in front of the vehicle Wheels in some cases. Snrh yielding Spiral front portions may also sometimes he need in (-onnertion with {mother front strip or ronnm-tion extending transversely ill; the some or n dill'orent level and lhe epirnlly :irrnngrll or upportml portions preferably (l lflfllll [he renter ol the holler are in such more preferably located gpmewhat ahead or in advance ol' the other; hnl'l'er front portions. so as to preliminarily yield an inch or two before the other l'ront strips or portions are engaged under rollision renditions.

Tn thr accompanying drawing showing in Renewed April 6, 1928.

l smm'wllzlt diagrammatic way rarions illustrative mnhodimonts of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a prrsprrtivo View Showing one illnstrnl iuholler.

Fig. is a top view thereof; and

Figs. 5. l. and are perspective views showing modified ronstrurtions.

As indivatvd in Plies. 1 and 2 the boiler front may roinprise two or more resilient l! or spiral spring portions preferably i immediate the ends of the buffer front whirh may if desired be formed with the imml resilient end loops 3, ll projecting out into protective position more or less in fmnt of the vehicle wheels. The buffer front may he supported from the vehicle in any suitable way as by attaching arms such as 1, whirh may he formed of spring steel strip and he provided with curved worinectinn portions 2 (OHDGCtQll to or integral with the end loop 3 so as to resiliently support the outer impart receiving portion 4 of the hnfl'or front. The other side of the buffer may have a. similar arrangement formed with the same or similar spring strip and romprising if desired the attaching arm or member 9 and curved portion 10 connecting with the outer end loop 11 and adjacent impact receiving portion 12. The intermediate spiral spring portions such as 5, 6 which may be bent or formed in one or both of the spring strips are preferably arranged so that this bent portion 6 rises considerably above the level of the adjacent buffer front or impact receiving member 4, so that if desired this spring loop may be carried up above the plane of the cooperating attaching: members 1 2 so as not to interfere with the closing of the endloop and adjacent port-ions under collision conditions. This also serves to raise the Connected central impact portion 7 of the buffer strip several inrhes or so above the outer end of the strip mid end loop. so that this raised central impact. receiving portion forms an additiona raised Contact portion of the buffer front which is thus given an efl'ective vertiral width of four to eight inches as desired. Furthermore this intermediate contact or impact receiving: portion may be given an ndvsinred position horizontally iihead of the outer impact rem xing portions such as 4 of the buffer from, so as to be more ikely to receive the initial collision impact and exert a conslderable preliminary cushioning action before the outer parts of the ill buffer front are engaged under collision conditions.

If desired the other front strip 12 may be formed with a Similar spirally bent portion 13, 14 having a substantiall vertical axis and carrying the connecte intermediate contact or impact receiving portion 15 of the buffer front vertically out of line, and also is desired ahead of the connected outer impact receiving ortion such as 12. These additional resi iently cushioning central contact portions may be connected in any suitable way so that they are preferably longitudinally adjustable to adjust the widt of the attaching arms or members of the buffer. and if desired these intermediate or central contact strips 7, 15 may be clamped together in overlapping reen orci'ng osition as by the clamps or connections 1 18 which may be arranged adjacent the ends a and 16 of these strips. The buffer thus has a pleasing appearance and in addition to the increased vertical width of the contact poi-lion, considerably increased resilient cushioning action is im arted to this ecntralpart of the buffer ront by these intermediate spiral or other bent portions which may have any suitable form and dimensions.

As shown in Fig. 3 one of the spring strips hich may have an integral attaching membe and connecting bend or end loop por, tion 21 may have its front or impact recciving portion 21 formed with several intermediate spiral or bent resilient loop portions such as 22, and 25, 26 which may similarly raise and also advance if desired the resilient central contact or impact receivin portion 2% of the buffer front. This I ufler front strip may be integrally connected ith both of the attaching members if desired or may be adjustably connected with one or both of these'attaching members as by forming adjacent/i these intermediate spiral bends or loops connector portions or ends such as 2.7, which may be clam ed or wmmZCtUl in any suitable way wit any portion of the buffer. In this instance the other attaching member 29 may be formed of similar spring strip and may have'the connected bent and end door; portions 30, ill yieldingly supporting the front or contact strip 33 which may extend considerably across the heifer front to about the point In this way a straight strip or front connector portion is formed which may be permanently or adjnstably connected or clamped to the other front portions of the bufi'er as by the enclosing clips or clamps 28. 34 which may provide for width adjustment if desired.

As shown in Fig. 4 the intermediate bent faces and also minimize the horizontal extent of these bends of which one or more may be used on each side of the center of the buffer. In this case the attaching member 85 may be of spring strip integral with the bent portions 36 and end loop 37 if desired so as to support the adjacent impact receiving portion 38 of the buffer front. This may merge into the diagonally arranged s iral ortions 39, 40 and 41 which may if (iiasire be flattened considerably so long as the bends 39, k1 are not made too sharp for strength, for which reason their inner radius or curvature should not be less than about one inch or'one inch and a half, depending of course, on the thickness of the strip and stock used. In this way increased resilience may be given to the con nected central contact portion. 42 of the buffer front which may be yieldingly supported in raised and also in advanced position if desired with respect to the other or outer impact receiving ortions of the bulfer. As indicated the other ufier strip may have the attaching member 45 and connected bent and end loop portions 46, 4? sh as to support the outer front portion 48 about in line with the corres onding portion 38 adjacent the other en of the buffer. Similar diagonall bent or spiral portions 49, 50, 51 may also e formed in this strip to connect the portions 48 and 52 which may thus be located in raised advanced position, so as to be connected in any suitable way with the cooperating front strip 42. The enclosing clamps or clips 44, 54 may be used for this purpose adjacent the ends 43, 53 of the front strips so as to securely connect them in adjusted position, so that they are vertirally rigid and this centrahpart of the buffor front strengthened by the overlapping rccnforremcnt which they give toeach other.

Fig. 5 shows another illustrative arrangement in which the front strips may each be formed with intermediate spiral or other bcnt resilient portions of any suitable character which may carry the central portions of these two strips both up and down with respect to the connected end portions, so as to form separated raised and lowered contact portions if desired. which are given increased resilient cushioning action by these connecting bends. The attaching member and connected and loops portion 55. 56, 57 may have its adjacent front or impact 1'0- cciving portion 58 formed with the spiral or other intermediate bent or loopportion 59, 60, 61, which may carry the connected central contact portion 62 out of line with the end portion 58. Another similar spiral or loop portion 63, 6% may serve to give a till similarly cushioning connection with the connector portion (55 of this strip which may be clamped or otherwise bolted or connected to the other connector strips employer]. In this case another hull'cr strip which may be similarly formed of sprin g steel may have the attaching portion 69 and connected bend and end loop portions 70, 71 merging into the front impact receiving portion 62. This part of the butter front may have the upwardly bent loop or spiral portions 73 Tl and 75 so that the connected front contact portion it} may be raised considerably above the other contact portion 62, and'both may if desired he supported several inches in advance of the connected outer impact receiving portions 58, T2 of the bulfer front. Similar spiral loop portions 77, may merge into the connector portion 78, ending il' desiral at about the point 79 so as to be adjust-ably or otherwise clamped or connected as by the clamp (38 to the poo ti'on 58 ot' the other strip. A similar com necting clamp UT may adjustably connect the other strip end (56 with the portion 72, so as to securely unite the butter l'ront and have ample strength for resistingcollision impacts.

This invention has been described in connection with a number of embodin'ients, forms, proportions, parts, arrangements, materials, methods of connection and use, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new and what is desired to he seemed by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. The automobile butl'er formed of flat spring, steel strip and comprising attaching members and connected end loops and adjacent outer impact receiving portions of the buffer front. intermediate spiral bent portions formed in the Hat spring" strip between the end loops and resiliently supporting in raised position the connected central contact portions of the buffer front, and a straight front. contact portion substantially in line with the outer impact receiving portions of the butter front and adjustably connected at one end to an outer impact receiving portion. l

2. The automobile buli'er formed of flat spring steel strip and comprising attaching members and connected end loops and adjacent outer impart receiving portions of the, buffer front. intermediate spiral bent portions formed in the flat spring strip between the end loops and resiliently supporting the connected "central contact portions of the butter front. and a front contact; portion substantially in line with the outer impact receiving portions of the butter front and connected at one end to an outer in.- pact receiving portion.

3. The automobile bulfer formed of flat sprnu steel strip and comprising attaching m nbers and connected loop ends and adjaccn alter impact receiving portions of the butter front and intermediate coiled portions formed in the flat spring strip hctween the ends and resiliently supportinp in advance-l position the connected central contact portion of the buffer front, and a front portion connected to the outer impact receiving portions of the buffer front.

4. The automobile butl'er formed of flat spring steel strip and con'lprising attaching members and connected ends and adjacent outer impact receiving portions of the buffer front. and intermediate coiled portions formed in the (lat spring strip between the ends and resiliently supporting the connected. central contact portion of the butter front. l

5. The automobile buffer formed of steel strip and comprising attaching members and connected ends and adjacent outer impact. receiving portions of the buffer front, and intermediate coiled portions formed in the strip between the ends and resiliently supporting the connected central contact portion of the buffer front.

6. The automobile bu'lfer formed of flat spring steel strip and comprising attaching members and integral loop ends and adja cent outer impact receiving portions of the better from and intermediate coiled portions formed of flat spring strip between the ends and resiliently supporting: in advanced position the connected central contact portions of the buffer l'ront, and a front portion connected to the outer impact receiving portions of the bufl'er front.

7.- The automobile bufl'cr formed of flat spring, steel strip and comprising attaching members and integral ends and adjacent outer impact receiving portions of the butter front and intermediate coiled portions formed of flat spring strip between the ends.

8. T to buli'cr front comprising, outer impact"ccciving port-ions and adjacent connected end loops Formed of flat spring strip and adapted to be connected. to a vehicle, intermediate spiral portions formed in the flat spring st rip between the end loops and having substantially vertical axes to resiliently support in raised position the connected central contact portions of the butter front, and a. front butler clement substantially in the same horizontal line with the outer im pact. receiving: portions of the buffer front and connected thereto on either side of said intermediate spiral portions.

9. The hatter front con'iprisingg' cuter impact receiving portions and adjacent eonuected end loops formed of flat spring strip and adapted to be connected to a vehicle, llil'tl'lllttlllltt spiral p rtions formed in the flat spring strip bct 'en the end loops to resiliently support the connected central front bufi'er element connected on either side of said intermediate spiral portions.

10. The buffer front comprising outer impact receiving portions and 'ad acent connected end loops formed of flat spring strip and adapted to be connected to a vehicle intermcdiate approximately flat loop portions formed in the fiat spring strip between the end loops to resiliently support the connected central contact portions of the buffer front. I V 11. The buffer front comprising flat spring strip outer impact receiving portions and adjacent connected end loops adapted to be connected to, a vehicle to support the buffer front and intermediate spiral bent portions formed in the flat spring strip between the end 100 s and resiliently supporting in vertically isplaced position the connected central contact portion of the buffer front, and a substantially horizontal front strip substantially in line with the outer impact receiving portions of the buffer front and connected at one end thereto.

12. The bufi'er front comprising flat spring strip outer impact receiving portions and adjacent connected end loops adapted to be connected to a vehicle to support the buffer front and intermediate spiral bent portions formed in the flat 5 rin strip between the end loops 'and resi ient y supporting the connected central contact portion of the buffer front.

13. The buffer front comprising flat spring strip outer impact receiving portions and adjacent connected end loops adapted to be connected to a vehicle to sup ort the buffer front and intermediate coi ed porouter impact receiving portions an tions formed in the flat spring strip between the end loops to give increased re silience to the connected central contact portion of the buffer front. 7

14. The buffer front comprising flat strip outer impact receiving portions and adjacent connected loopends, intermediate spi rally coiled portions formed in the flat strip between the ends and resiliently supporting in advanced position connected central contact portions of the buffer front.

15. The buffer front comprising flat strip outer impact receiving portions and ad'acent connected ends, intermediate coi ed portions formed in the flat strip between the ends and resiliently supporting connected central contact'portions of the buffer front.

16. The buffer front comprisin sgrip a acent connected ends, intermediate coiled pairtions formed in the strip between the ends and resiliently sup orting connectedcentral contact portions of the buffer front.

17. The buffer front comprising outer impact receiving portions and ad acent connected loop ends formed of fiat spring strip and ada ted to be connected to avehicle, interme iate resilient contact portions comprising two to four spiral turns formed in the flat sprin strip between said ends.

18. The boiler front comprising outer impact receiving portions and ad acent connected ends formed of flat spring strip and adapted to be connected to a vehicle, 1ntermediate resilient contact portions com'prising several s iral turns formedin the flat spring strip etween said ends.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

